Latest posts for the topic "Lift closing times?"

Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:32:56 GMT

Something Ally said has prompted this post...

Thought I'd start a new thread as I didn't want to wibble up the other one. :oops:

Do any resorts traditionally keep their lifts running later into the day than others?

I've only skied in France and Canada so far but they both closed around 4pm with loads of light left. It felt like we had to stop in the middle of the afternoon! :evil:

In Canada we had to convince the instructor that if the lifts shut at four then we want to be at the top of the mountain at 4, not just arriving at the bottom. :twisted:

I might be inclined to spend a little more time and money on lunch if I didn't begrudge the time away from skiing.

Is it just me or does anyone else have similar feelings?

Cheers,

Owen.

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:26:28 GMT

Experience tells me that some resorts change their lift opening/closing times as the season progresses, ie longer days in March mean later closing times.
ADH latest lifts were something like 4.15 to link into other areas, and 4.30 up to 4.45 to ride up the last time, and that was January.

Austrian skiing has often been later than France with lifts up to 5pm in some places, notably Mayrhofen.

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:38:00 GMT

I suppose the problem is that once the sun goes down, especially with huge mountains blocking out the last remaining light, it can get dark pretty quick.
The last thing any resort would want is lots of people stranded on the slopes in the dark.

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:41:12 GMT

4pm does seem early, Tony has pretty much covered it though with the daylight hours getting longer, seems a shame to be sitting in a bar when you could squeeze in a few more runs.

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:57:21 GMT

NellyPS wrote:4pm does seem early, Tony has pretty much covered it though with the daylight hours getting longer, seems a shame to be sitting in a bar when you could squeeze in a few more runs.

....or do both!!!

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:57:52 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

NellyPS wrote:4pm does seem early, Tony has pretty much covered it though with the daylight hours getting longer, seems a shame to be sitting in a bar when you could squeeze in a few more runs.

....or do both!!!

The end of the day is my favourite, if I can find a bar that's still open (the one at the top of the Penken in Mayrhofen springs to mind), I love watching the mountains change colour, the temparatures get colder whilst having a beer, then have a little ski down to the bottom (obviously not from the Penken I might add)

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:15:48 GMT

Eating's Cheating :thumbup:

From my understanding is that they are staggered from 4pm to 4.45 so peeps can ski back from linked resorts :roll:

If lifts close at 4.30 then the staggered lift closing effect would mean than we would all be skiing with a head torch ;)

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:23:46 GMT

Iceman wrote:Eating's Cheating :thumbup:

From my understanding is that they are staggered from 4pm to 4.45 so peeps can ski back from linked resorts :roll:

If lifts close at 4.30 then the staggered lift closing effect would mean than we would all be skiing with a head torch ;)

Which reminds me....... <nips off to start a new thread>

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:25:49 GMT

Snapzzz wrote:

Iceman wrote:Eating's Cheating :thumbup:

From my understanding is that they are staggered from 4pm to 4.45 so peeps can ski back from linked resorts :roll:

If lifts close at 4.30 then the staggered lift closing effect would mean than we would all be skiing with a head torch ;)

Which reminds me....... <nips off to start a new thread>

What? No wibble here ;)

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:50:20 GMT

Snapzzz wrote:I suppose the problem is that once the sun goes down, especially with huge mountains blocking out the last remaining light, it can get dark pretty quick.
The last thing any resort would want is lots of people stranded on the slopes in the dark.

In the US and Canada. The Ski Patrol sweep all the runs at the end of the skiing day to make sure everyone is off the mountain. I would guess they like to do that in daylight.

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:14:35 GMT

Trencher wrote:

Snapzzz wrote:I suppose the problem is that once the sun goes down, especially with huge mountains blocking out the last remaining light, it can get dark pretty quick.
The last thing any resort would want is lots of people stranded on the slopes in the dark.

In the US and Canada. The Ski Patrol sweep all the runs at the end of the skiing day to make sure everyone is off the mountain. I would guess they like to do that in daylight.

That's just what I was going to say Trencher. I've always thought that the ski patrol check all the pistes last thing in France to look out for casualties and people lost etc. And as you say they need daylight for this.

Ally

Re:Lift closing times?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:16:13 GMT

For the ride up lifts are closing at 4.15 in Verbier and they don't extend it with days getting longer - which actually makes sense. It can be light in March/April till later, but who wants to ski till 4 pm in spring conditions? I am usually done at 2.

Re:Lift closing times?

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:06:36 GMT

Went to Courchevel on Feb 4th & they had just extended the lift opening times in the 3V that week so some resorts do extend their operational hours as the days get longer.

Re:Lift closing times?

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:05:38 GMT

andymol2 wrote:Went to Courchevel on Feb 4th & they had just extended the lift opening times in the 3V that week so some resorts do extend their operational hours as the days get longer.

Thats my experience as well.

Re:Lift closing times?

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:36:56 GMT

I think VSB is correct. Who wants to ski beyond 4pm anyway? In Winter is dark and cold, especially in steeper valleys like Chamonix. In Spring best conditions are before lunch, wherever you are.

If people want value to money, first lift is key. Either fresh powder or nicely groomed slopes for carving on. Reality is that if you ski hard from 9-3, that is 5hrs more exercise than someone who goes to gym every day.

Have to say is a very British thing; (will excuse myself as am one) to rock up late skiing and moan about conditions. Even last year in late March there was good skiing to be had for 3 hrs or so in morning. As I was heading home for lunch, so many people just starting out, moaning about the glorious weather and soft snow ?. Few better things in world than having a demi bier, salad chevre chaud, looking up at Mountains and thinking of the Brits moaning about the snow and sun. Food is always better and cheaper in resort so win win win.

Re:Lift closing times?

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:42:02 GMT

You can ski up to 10pm on floodlit runs in Poland and if memory serves me right up to 7pm in Finland

Re:Lift closing times?

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:53:20 GMT

Ranchero_1979 wrote:IWho wants to ski beyond 4pm anyway?

Me.

Ranchero_1979 wrote:If people want value to money, first lift is key.

Always, come what may, and then last lift in the afternoon, come what may.

Ranchero_1979 wrote:Have to say is a very British thing; (will excuse myself as am one) to rock up late skiing and moan about conditions.

Not from my experience it isn't